Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Costs

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will correct the figure for the estimated cost of the works for HS2 Phase 2a on their website page HS2 Phase 2a: High Speed Rail (West Midlands to Crewe) Act 2021; why other documents on this page have been updated but this figure has not; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the most recent comparable figures.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The estimated cost of works on the gov.uk web page is the Estimate of Expense as required by Standing Order 45 of the House, when the High Speed Rail (West Midlands to Crewe) Bill was deposited in July 2017. There is no requirement for the Estimate of Expense to be updated, although other documents linked on the web page have been updated when required by Standing Orders. The Government committed to regularly update Parliament on the progress of the HS2 programme by issuing reports twice a year, with the most recent on 23 March and contains updated cost figures.

Railways: Exhaust Emissions

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop (1) ultra light, and (2) very light, rail to achieve decarbonised transport; what assessment they have made of the (a) efficiency, and (b) longevity, of rail vehicles as compared with road vehicles; and what is their timetablefor investment into light rail in urban locations, as well as on branch railway lines.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department is considering the next steps and future direction for Light Rail Policy. This includes Mass Rapid Transit, Very Light Rail and other intermediate modes to reflect the wider Government agenda. Through funding packages to cities, the Government has paid for or underwritten significant investments in light rail in recent years. Local transport authorities have responsibility for transport planning, including considering bus rapid transit and other such schemes which lie between conventional bus and light rail. These bring the benefits and user experience of light rail to bus corridors at significantly lower cost, as stated in 'Bus Back Better'.The Government is developing a Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) that puts transport on a path to delivering its contributions to carbon budgets and net zero by 2050. The plan will take a holistic and cross-modal approach to decarbonising the entire transport system for the first time, setting out a credible and ambitious pathway to cut emissions. The Plan will be published in Spring 2021.

Travel: Concessions

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether disabled persons' (1) railcards, and (2) bus passes,are only valid for use after 9.30am; and if so, (a) why, and (b) what assessment they have made of the impact of such time restrictions on theuse of those passesto commute to work.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Unlike most railcards, the disabled persons railcard can be used before 09.30am, with no peak time restrictions on its use. With regard to bus travel, the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme offers concessionary pass holders free bus travel from 09.30am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays. The times of the concession were set out in the Transport Act 2000. This allows pass holders to take advantage of the increased operational capacity available after the morning peak travel time. Under the Concessionary Travel Act 2007, local authorities in England have the power to offer additional local concessions, such as extending the hours of the concession, and three quarters of authorities already do so. This policy area is kept under review.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Aerospace Industry: Manufacturing Industries

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the financial support they provided to the aerospace sectorduring the COVID-19pandemic was allocated to aerospace manufacturers in the UK.

Lord Callanan: The Government has put in place substantial cross-economy support measures to help the UK economy through this pandemic. Due to the nature of these support measures, it is not possible to set out in full the proportion provided to the aerospace sector. However, we are able to confirm that UK aerospace manufacturers and their aviation customers, over the next 3 years, will benefit from £8 billion in export guarantees and have utilised up to £2.6 billion in Covid Corporate Financing Facility support. The Aerospace sector will also continue to be supported by the £150 million per annum Aerospace Technology Institute research and development programme and the £125 million Future Flight research and development programme. These figures do not include other measures such as the Job Retention Scheme which, we know, the aerospace sector will also have benefited from.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the devolved administrations about (1) the reduction in the number of available COVID-19 vaccines during April, and (2) the impact of that reduction on the UK’s vaccination programme.

Lord Callanan: UK Government Ministers and officials are in weekly discussions with the Devolved Administrations regarding the supply of vaccines. This is in addition to the UK Government sharing a rolling 13-week forecast with the four nations each week, as well as a 6-month forward look which is shared each month. This helps to ensure that deployment can be planned effectively and aligned to forecast supply. Our forthcoming scheduled deliveries will fully support our target of offering a first vaccine dose to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority cohorts 1 to 9 by 15 April and all remaining adults by 31 July. The UK Government is responsible for supplying vaccines to the Devolved Administrations. However, as health policy is a devolved matter, the vaccination programme in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the respective Devolved Administrations.

Industrial Strategy Council

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they decided to disband the Industrial Strategy Council; and what plans they have to replace it with another independent body.

Lord Callanan: The Government has decided that the Industrial Strategy Council in its current form will no longer be needed to monitor and evaluate the impact of the Industrial Strategy, following Industrial Strategy’s transition to Build Back Better: our plan for growth, and so will be wound down after its Annual Report. We will draw on the Industrial Strategy Council’s work and expertise, both on success metrics and insight projects, in taking forward further work in this area. However, we must ensure our plan is carried through with a relentless focus on delivery and we will continue to evaluate our work. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet Secretary have asked Sir Michael Barber to conduct a rapid review of government delivery to ensure that it remains focused, effective and efficient, and to suggest how it could be strengthened. Furthermore, The Build Back Better Business Council was convened by the Prime Minister to support ‘Build Back Better: our plan for growth’. The Build Back Better Business Council brings together a broad range of business leaders from across the whole British economy to work in partnership with the Government to recover from COVID-19, unlock investment, boost job creation, level up the whole of the UK, and promote Global Britain.

Industry: Policy

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the impact, and (2) the effectiveness, of the Industrial Strategy.

Lord Callanan: The majority of the 142 policy commitments in the 2017 Industrial Strategy are now in delivery phases, with around £45 billion of funding assigned to Industrial Strategy initiatives. We have made progress strengthening the foundations of productivity, by investing in transport, housing, and digital infrastructure through the National Productivity Investment Fund. On skills, we have invested in maths, digital and technical education, and in September 2020 we introduced T-Levels. The Grand Challenges and missions have strengthened the UK’s standing as a global leader in AI, clean growth, healthy ageing, and future transport technology, bringing Government together with industry to inspire and develop an Innovation Strategy that will improve lives and support our economy. This includes securing our landmark legislative commitment to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050, while supporting our businesses to adapt to a decarbonised future. We have brought industry along with us, publishing eleven Sector Deals across ten sectors – comprising over 170 individual commitments with £3.25 billion in combined investment from industry and Government, including Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund monies.

Universities: China

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the report by King's College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that "the UK’s dependence on a neototalitarian technology power for the financial health and research output of its universities is now regarded as a particular point of vulnerability".

Lord Callanan: Universities are well aware of the possible risks associated with dependence on a single source of funding, whether that is from a single organisation or from a single nation. A diverse recruitment base is key to avoiding this. The Government’s International Education Strategy and recent update make clear that the internationalisation of our higher education sector cannot come at any cost – universities must ensure they have appropriate processes in place to manage risk. Government has recently issued guidance to the Office for Students, requesting they monitor the financial sustainability of institutions and continue to support the sector to recruit sustainably.

Research: China

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusions in the report by King's College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that (1) China is projected to become the UK's most significant research partner, and (2) collaborations with China account for more than 20 per cent of the UK’s high-impact research in 20 subject areas.

Lord Callanan: Her Majesty’s Government recognises the enormous benefits from collaborating on scientific research with China. We cannot address global challenges, such as climate change, without their support and engagement. We will continue to support research collaboration with China where it is clearly in the national interest to do so.

Universities: China

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the report by King's College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that an increase in funding from China and collaboration with Chinese researchers over the last two decades risks the autonomy of UK universities.

Lord Callanan: Her Majesty’s Government carefully considers advice and analysis from a range of sources, including universities and think tanks, and is grateful for the scholarship which my Noble Friend the Rt. Hon. the Lord Johnson of Marylebone has provided in this report. We will continue to support the sector to make informed decisions when engaging in international research and other collaboration. Universities are well-aware of the possible risks associated with dependence on a single source of funding, whether that is from a single organisation or from a single nation. A diverse recruitment base is key to avoiding this. The Government’s International Education Strategy and recent update make clear that the internationalisation of our higher education sector cannot come at any cost – universities must ensure they have appropriate processes in place to manage risk.

Universities: China

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the report by King's College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that the UK has “poorly understood” risks of increasing collaboration between UK universities and China.

Lord Callanan: International collaborations are central to our position as a science superpower and create wealth and jobs within the UK. We cooperate closely with universities, funding bodies and industry in protecting our higher education and research sector from interference. This includes publishing “Trusted Research” and commissioning Universities UK to release comprehensive guidelines to encourage secure partnerships and promote our values. We are pleased to see the university sector addressing these challenges and we will continue to work with the sector on implementing the guidelines, promoting best practice, and responding to specific enquiries. We also share experience and best practice with our friends and allies overseas.

Overseas Students: China

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what risk assessment they have conducted of students from China undertaking research in universities which are carrying out research connected with (1) critical infrastructure, and (2) national security, particularly in relation to (a) cyber technology, (b) artificial intelligence, (c) nuclear capability, (d) automation, (e) telecommunications and material sciences, and (f) weapons development; and what conclusions they have drawn.

Lord Callanan: Her Majesty’s Government welcomes all international students to UK universities, including those from China. We have taken robust measures to ensure that the university sector is protected from miss-appropriation of research relating to the areas listed. Measures include the Academic Technology Approval Scheme, which vets postgraduate students seeking to study proliferation sensitive courses, and outreach activity through the “Trusted Research” campaign. We continuously review measures that protect national security to ensure they remain effective.

Higher Education and Research: China

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the report by King's College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that the UK "urgently needs to put in place a robust framework for engaging China in research and higher education".

Lord Callanan: Her Majesty’s Government supports the sector to make informed decisions on international research collaboration and cooperates closely with universities, funding bodies and industry in protecting our higher education and research sector from interference. This is backed by a robust legal and regulatory framework including on exports, intellectual property and academic freedom and freedom of speech. We have strengthened protective measures and keep them under review. Trusted Research and the security guidelines commissioned by the Government and released by Universities UK are an important step to encourage secure partnerships and promote our values. We are pleased to see the university sector addressing these challenges and we will continue to work with the sector on implementing guidelines recommendations.

Industry: Departmental Responsibilities

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government which department leads on the Industrial Strategy; whether that department will continue to lead that strategy (1) during the next financial year, and (2) to the end of the current parliament; and if that department will not continue to lead that strategy, (a) which department will do so, and (b) whether the Industrial Strategy will need to be updated.

Lord Callanan: Since the Industrial Strategy was published in 2017, the UK has been presented with new challenges and new opportunities; we have legislated to end our contribution to climate change by 2050, we are forging a new path outside the European Union and continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore right that we take a fresh look at our plans for industrial policy and long-term economic growth. We are morphing and changing the Industrial Strategy into Build Back Better: our plan for growth and its supporting strategies to reflect the change in economic landscape since 2017. The plan and its supporting strategies will protect and create jobs as we transition to net zero with a renewed focus on infrastructure, skills, and innovation. Although ‘Build Back Better: our plan for growth’ has been led by HM Treasury, this is setting the framework for the work that we will do across Government to ensure we build back better from the current challenges and deliver long term economic growth. Ministers and Departmental officials will continue to work together to ensure our priorities are met, delivering these strategies to ensure longer-term economic growth. In order to support the Government’s ‘Build Back Better: our plan for growth’, the Department plans to set out details of our approach to supporting sectors, places, and technologies in the Innovation Strategy. The Department is already leading on strategies with respect to net zero, hydrogen and, innovation itself, as well as the space strategy. The work the Department has and continues to do has contributed greatly to the work for ‘Build Back Better: our plan for growth’ and will contribute to its supporting strategies.

UK Endorsement Board

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Henley on 26 April 2018 (HL7046), whether they will require the UK Endorsement Board to publish terms of reference that are (1) not subject to legal professional privilege, (2) developed independently of (a) current, or (b) former, advisers to accounting firms which havecontributed to accounting standards.

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 26 April 2018 (HL7046), whether they will publish terms of reference for the UK Endorsement Board that are (1) not subject to legal professional privilege, and (2) developed independently of (a) current, or (b) former, advisers to accounting firms which have contributed to accounting standards.

Lord Callanan: The Terms of Reference for the UK Endorsement Board (UKEB) were set by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State and agreed by the UKEB at their inaugural meeting on 26 March. A copy has been published on the UKEB’s website (please see attached).The Terms of Reference for the UKEB (pdf, 264.5KB)

Company Accounts

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government which (1) sections of the Companies Act 2006, or (2) regulations made under that Act, outline (a) the accounting treatment, and (b) the disclosure requirements, for finance secured through reverse factoring.

Lord Callanan: The Companies Act 2006 does not include specific requirements for finance secured through reverse factoring. However, section 393 places a requirement on directors that the accounts must provide a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of a company or group. This places a responsibility to provide such information as is necessary to ensure that requirement is met, including where reverse factoring is used in supply chain arrangements. The correct accounting treatment for reverse factoring is dependent on the terms and conditions of the factoring arrangement in place. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Interpretations Committee and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) have both issued guidance addressing the accounting standards requirements for reverse factoring, including guidance on additional disclosures. Copies of the guidance are attached below. The International Accounting Standards Board is also considering whether to add a project on reverse factoring to its agenda, as part of their responsibility for issuing International Financial Reporting Standards.Supply Chain Financing Arrangements—Reverse Factor (pdf, 21.6KB)Disclosures on the sources and uses of cash (pdf, 6111.8KB)

Investment Income

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 27 October 2020 (HL9157), whether they will provide (1) the names of the “Several bodies” who have “powers in certain circumstances to investigate and take action if illegal dividends have been paid”; and (2) the number of cases examined by each such body.

Lord Callanan: Compliance is primarily a matter for the directors, and there are rights of recourse to the courts in response to unlawful distributions. Where a company becomes insolvent after paying dividends the courts have wide powers to apply a variety of sanctions and remedies. Data on illegal dividends is not collected. A number of bodies, however, have an interest in dividend payments from their particular regulatory perspectives. They include the Insolvency Service and insolvency practitioners who will investigate dividend payments and seek to recover them if they are found to be illegal. HM Revenue and Customs has an interest in the proper payment of dividends to the extent that there may be tax consequences leading to a loss to the Exchequer. The Prudential Regulation Authority has rules and powers under financial services legislation regarding dividends and other distributions for the purpose of banks and building societies’ capital conservation. Data on this aspect of the regulators’ work is not collected. Proposals in the Government’s recently published consultation document on Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance would improve dividend transparency and provide stronger reassurance that dividends are being paid in line with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. These include proposals to require companies to disclose their known distributable reserves in their financial statements, and to require directors to confirm that dividends are within known distributable reserves and that it is their reasonable expectation that payment of the dividend will not threaten the solvency of the company over the next two years.

Insolvency

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of businesses subject to pre-pack administration survive longer than (1) five years, (2) 10 years, and (3) 15 years.

Lord Callanan: The Government does not hold or collect information on survival rates of businesses subject to a pre-pack administration.

Companies: Insolvency

Lord Lennie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the numberof registered company insolvencies in England since March 2020, by the parliamentary constituency in which the company registered office was based.

Lord Callanan: The Insolvency Service publishes National Statistics on insolvency cases for England and Wales combined. It is not possible to identify accurately companies that traded within specific parliamentary constituencies before entering insolvency. The data used for insolvency statistics is compiled from information at Companies House. The registered office address for a company may not be representative of its trading location, and often it is changed upon insolvency to the address of the appointed Insolvency Practitioner dealing with the case. This means that some cases may be counted as being in the constituency of the insolvency practitioner rather than the constituency of the registered office of the company before it went into insolvency. Subject to these caveats, the table provided as Annex A sets out the data on all registered company insolvencies from March 2020 to January 2021 (inclusive).HL14411 - Annex A (docx, 44.1KB)

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the paper by the Public Health England Transmission GroupPHE: Factors contributing to risk of SARS-CoV2 transmission in various settings, published on 26 November 2020, and in particular the finding that strengthened income relief could improve adherence to isolation guidelines.

Lord Bethell: The Government has assessed the need for financial support noted in the Public Health England’s paper and has implemented the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme to provide targeted support to individuals on low incomes who will lose income as a result of having to self-isolate. The Government has provided £70 million to local authorities to meet the costs of payments under the scheme, with a further £39 million being released at the end of February. The Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme will continue into the summer and will be expanded to cover parents who are unable to work because they are caring for a child who is self-isolating. The Government keeps all elements of its COVID-19 response under review, including the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. We will continue to work closely with the 314 unitary and district authorities in England to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme.

Cancer: Vaccination

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment and research they have undertaken in support of advice or guidance for (1) the treatment of, (2) evaluating the risk of, and (3) recommending the most effective vaccine for, Follicular Lymphoma.

Lord Bethell: In 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the guideline Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: diagnosis and management. The guideline covers diagnosing and managing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in people aged 16 years old and over. The guideline includes specific recommendations related to the management and treatment of different stages of follicular lymphoma. A copy of the guideline is attached.UK Research and Innovation is funding research on vaccine responses in groups of immune-supressed individual as part of its support for the OCTAVE study in the National Core Studies (NCS) Immunity Programme. The NCS Immunity Programme was established in October 2020 to enable the United Kingdom to use health data and research at scale, recognising the need to respond to near term strategic, policy and operational pressures and ultimately maintain resilience against COVID-19.Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: diagnosis and management  (pdf, 167.5KB)

Department for Education

Erasmus+ Programme

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to replace the eTwinning scheme, which ended when they withdrew from the Erasmus+ programme.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The new Turing Scheme, which replaces the Erasmus+ programme, will provide funding for school pupils to participate in international placements and exchanges, and the scheme is now open for schools to apply to. The scheme does not provide a like-for-like replacement of the eTwinning online platform. In considering what elements of the Erasmus+ programme we would immediately replicate under the Turing Scheme, we prioritised funding school pupils and students to participate in exchanges in person, to ensure that as many pupils as possible can benefit, including a focus on widening access for disadvantaged students. We want to give as many pupils as possible the opportunity to travel abroad to experience different cultures, improve their language skills, and build their independence.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Coronavirus

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that deaths from COVID-19 in prisons in England and Wales rose by 50 per cent in a month in December 2020; what percentage of prisoners have now been vaccinated against COVID-19; and what other measures they have taken to decrease the risk of COVID-19 being transmitted to prisoners and to prison officers

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: As was the case in the community, infection rates in prisons increased over the winter months which, sadly, led to an increase in deaths where Covid-19 was suspected as being the cause. With a small number of tragic exceptions, we have protected the lives of tens of thousands of staff and prisoners. Our decisive action – backed by Public Health England and Wales - has meant that the number of deaths we have seen in prisons is significantly lower than Public Health England’s Modelling at the start of the pandemic, which said there could be 2,700 deaths from coronavirus in prisons. As of 18 March 2021, the percentage of the whole prison population in England who have received a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is 23.4%, equivalent to 79% of the priority cohorts 2-6 (as defined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation). The vaccination programme is making good progress and has recently expanded to start vaccinating those prisoners in priority groups 7 - 9, in line with the wider community. The safety of our staff and those under our supervision remains a top priority. We have taken preventative measures, such as restricting regimes, minimising inter-prison transfers, and compartmentalising our prisons into different units to isolate the sick, shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals. A comprehensive testing regime is in place, where staff are tested weekly and prisoners are tested on reception and prior to transfer. This is key in helping to prevent the spread of the virus. Latest published data shows positive evidence that the rate of new infections in custody is now falling substantially.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Zimbabwe: Political Prisoners

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Zimbabwe about (1) the release, or (2) the trial, of Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is deeply concerned by the recently reported rearrests of Joanna Mamombe MP, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova. We also understand that Ms Mamombe and Ms Chimbiri's applications for bail have been denied. When the Minister for Africa wrote to late Foreign Minister Moyo on 12 August 2020, following a telephone call with him on 8 June 2020, he raised specific human rights concerns, including the treatment of Ms Mamombe, Ms Chimbiri, and Ms Marowa. Our Ambassador in Harare reinforced these messages when she met representatives of the Government of Zimbabwe on 24 November 2020. On 5 February, the Minister for Africa tweeted urging authorities to focus on investigating the women's claims.The UK will continue to monitor developments in the case of Ms Mamombe, Ms Chimbiri, and Ms Marova closely and continue to call on the Government of Zimbabwe to uphold the rule of law. This includes respecting the Zimbabwean Constitution which clearly prohibits enforced disappearances, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment. We admire the bravery of civil society activists in Zimbabwe who aspire to a better future for Zimbabwe.

South Sudan: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 12 March (HL13839and HL13840), what plans they have toreduce the level offunding to the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund in South Sudan; and what assessment they have made of the impact of changes to their conflict strategy on African countries in conflict, in particular South Sudan.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As announced to Parliament last year, the impact of the global pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take the tough, but necessary decision to temporarily reduce the Official Development Assistance budget. The FCDO is reviewing all individual country allocations as part of the Country Business Planning process, including specific implications for all spend in South Sudan. These will be communicated to Parliament in due course. The UK is steadfast in our commitment to supporting victims of conflict worldwide. We will continue to press for full, inclusive implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement, which remains South Sudan's best chance for long-term peace and stability.

Mozambique: Politics and Government

The Lord Bishop of London: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to facilitate a coordinated response from UK political, economic and faith leaders to the situation in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique; and, in coordinating any such response, how they will take account of the influence of (1) natural disasters, (2) insurgents aligned with Islamic State, and (3) the recruitment of poor and disaffected young people to armed groups in the region.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in northern Mozambique. We are working with the Government of Mozambique and other key stakeholders to address the root drivers of conflict and instability in Cabo Delgado province. This includes close co-operation with the Government of Mozambique's regional development authority in Cabo Delgado; providing targeted technical assistance under the framework of our Defence Memorandum of Understanding; and providing £19m of humanitarian and development support to internally displaced people through UN agencies, ensuring they have access to food, shelter and basic healthcare. UK development assistance in Mozambique also includes programmes to drive more inclusive growth and to promote good governance. We are also working with the government and private sector to promote training and skills opportunities for youth in the region. As one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world, the UK is partnering with Mozambique on climate adaptation, including by building the resilience of the most vulnerable to climate shocks and natural disasters.

Cameroon: Vatican

Lord Boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Holy See has met the Vatican Secretary of State following the visit by Cardinal Parolin to Cameroon in February; what (1) financial, and (2) other, support they have provided to faith-based groups working in conflict resolution in that country; and if none, what plansthey have to provide such support in future.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Holy See is in regular contact with the Vatican and met Cardinal Parolin following his visit to Cameroon.The FCDO is committed to conflict resolution and finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis is the Government's top priority in Cameroon. The UK continues to work with the Catholic Church on a range of global challenges. In financial year 2019/20, FCDO provided a grant of £20,000 to the Peace and Justice Commission of the Bamenda Archdiocese to fund a project to document and report on serious and systemic human rights violations in Cameroon. During his visit to Cameroon, the Minister for Africa and the UK High Commissioner to Cameroon met religious leaders from a number of faiths to hear first-hand their accounts of the crisis in the North-west South-west regions.

Ministry of Defence

Defence

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to (1) the government ofRussia’s seizure of Crimea, and (2) the government of Azerbaijan’s attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, what plans they have to review their policies for (a) nuclear, and (b) other deterrence.

Baroness Goldie: The international order is more fragmented, characterised by intensifying competition between states over interests, norms and values. The UK's defence and deterrence policy is kept constantly under review to ensure that it reflects the current security environment. NATO remains the foundation of collective security in the Euro-Atlantic area, where our commitment to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty remains our most powerful deterrent. To respond to emerging security challenges, including sub-threshold activity, Her Majesty's Government applies modern deterrence: the application of all appropriate tools to deter actual or potential adversaries from attempting harm against the UK or our partners. We continue to use the full spectrum of our capabilities to deter adversaries and to deny them opportunities to attack us or our allies. The UK's nuclear deterrent exists to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life.

Marines

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the trained personnel strength of the Royal Marines on (1) 1 April 2010, (2) 1 April 2016, and (3) what do they estimatewill be thetrained personnel strength on 1 April 2025.

Baroness Goldie: As at 1 January 2021, the current Full Time Trained Strength of the Royal Marines is 5,968. On 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2016, the Full Time Trained Strength of the Royal Marines was 7,082 and 6,921 respectively. The recent Defence Command Paper announced that the Royal Marines will transition into the Future Commando Force and adopt new and autonomous capabilities. As a result, force structures will change but decisions are yet to be made on the future size of the Royal Marines.

Reserve Forces

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Goldie on 23 March (HL Deb, col 811), whether the review of reserves byLord Lancaster of Kimbolton will cover the provision ofsoldiers for 'Military Aid to the Civil Power', including (1) resilience, and (2) disaster relief, following the recent cut in the size of the armed forces.

Baroness Goldie: The Reserve Forces 2030 (RF30) review was initiated by the Chief of the Defence Staff in February 2020. Lord Lancaster was invited to prepare an independent report on the reserve forces and how their likely future employment will contribute to defence and wider Government out to 2030. The RF30 review has yet to be published, but is a welcome and thorough review of reserves’ contribution to the Armed Forces including resilience. The MOD will carefully consider all of the review’s recommendations and report back to Parliament in due course.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Products: Imports

Lord Rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to compensate companies that recruited additional qualified veterinarians to administer checks on meat and dairy products entering the UK from the EU from 1 April who may now face redundancy following the decision to delay the introduction of these checks and health certificates; and what plans they have to meet with representatives of the affected companies.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Defra is working with PHAs to have new staff (including OVs) recruited and trained in advance of October, and will continue engaging with a number of organisations, including vet providers, to ensure we meet those timelines. PHAs are continuing to recruit OVs in order to train, familiarise and prepare themselves for the changes from 1st October.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Baroness Hayman of Ullock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what compensation they provide, if any, to commoners when Natural England make a decision that curtails economic activity on a common on the basis that it contains a site of special scientific interest.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Natural England must notify all owners and occupiers where it considers an area to be of special interest (notification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest – SSSIs). This will usually follow informal discussion, including discussion about management. Consensus between regulators, land managers, users and other stakeholders is generally required to deliver positive conservation outcomes for SSSIs. Countryside Stewardship currently provides the principal mechanism to help private land managers meet the cost of any positive management needed to restore SSSIs to, or maintain them in, favourable condition.

Home Office

Crimes against the Person

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect adults who fear assault.

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the provision of personal alarms to vulnerable people who fear assault.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government is committed to reducing serious violence and putting an end to the tragedies afflicting our communities. It is important that we work across government, statutory, private, and voluntary sectors to deliver change. We have announced we are investing a further £25m into the Safer Streets Fund this year, focused on ensuring people feel safe in public spaces and building on the £45m we have already committed. This investment will be launched in May once the pre-election period attached to local council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections has ended.The Fund will deliver physical crime prevention measures, such as improved street lighting or increased CCTV coverage. There is strong evidence to show that simple solutions like these helps prevent crimes before they happen, empowering communities and individuals, including women and girls, to feel truly safe.Violence Reduction Units are a key component of the Government’s investment to tackle violence at a local level. They bring together local partners in the 18 areas most affected by serious violence to deliver an effective, joined up approach to tackling violent crime and its drivers. The Home Office has invested £70m funding over two years (19/20 – 20/21) for Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). On 8 February, we announced a further £35m of funding for VRUs for 2021/22. We are committed to tackling all forms of abuse against women and girls. The previous VAWG Strategy included sexual harassment for the first time in recognition of the disproportionate impact that it has on women and girls. The Government takes all forms of harassment extremely seriously. Whether it is in the workplace, on the street, or as part of domestic or sexual abuse – sexual harassment, in any situation, is unacceptable. We will be publishing a new Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in 2021 which will help to better target perpetrators and support victims of these crimes and increase our ability to tackle emerging forms of VAWG such as ‘upskirting’ and revenge porn. To inform the new strategy, we launched a Call for Evidence on 10 December, inviting responses from the public, victims, their friends, family and colleagues as well as victim support organisations, frontline professionals, and academics. Following the tragic case of Sarah Everard and subsequent outpouring of stories and experiences of women who have faced violence or harassment, the Home Secretary decided to re-open the Government’s Call for Evidence on Friday 12 March, for a 2-week period, to inform the new strategies to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls. So far there have been over 147,000 responses to the call for evidence.

Hate Crime: Gender

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 17 March (HL Deb, col 371), that “on an experimental basis” they “will ask police forces to identify and record any crimes of violence against the person, including stalking and harassment, as well as sexual offences where the victim perceives it to have been motivated by a hostility based on their sex”, whether the police will record the sex of the victim on the basis of the victim’s legal sex or of their self-identified sex.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office is discussing this request with the police in the near future, following which further details about the data collection will be made available.

Metropolitan Police: Misconduct

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar on 16 March (HL Deb, col 167), what discussions they have had with the Independent Office for Police Conductabout the reasons (1) why the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police was not cross-examined in relation to allegations of misconduct during Operation Midland, and (2) for the length of time it took to complete its inquiry.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Operational decisions made as part of its investigations are a matter for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). In response to Sir Richard Henriques’ recent letter to the Home Secretary, she has written to the IOPC asking that it replies directly to Sir Richard about its decisions concerning Operation Midland. This letter is available on gov.uk at the following address:-https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/970281/HS_Letter_to_Michael_Lockwood_-_Op._Kentia.pdf

Police: Recruitment

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many police officers have been recruited as part of the campaign to recruit 20,000 additional police officers, announced on 5 September 2019.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: This Government is committed to recruiting an additional 20,000 police officers by March 2023. We are providing £700 million this year to help with the recruitment of 6,000 additional officers by the end of March 2021. I am pleased to say that as at 31 December 2020, 6,620 additional officers have been recruited as a result of the Police Uplift Programme. I am extremely grateful to those brave men and women who have signed up to join the police and keep our communities safe.

Wiltshire Police: Misconduct

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar on 16 March (HL Deb, col 168), what independent public scrutiny of Operation Conifer has been carried out.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Operation Conifer has been subject to scrutiny by its own Independent Scrutiny Panel, which checked and tested the decision-making and approach in the investigation; two reviews by Operation Hydrant in September 2016 and May 2017 which concluded that that the investigation was proportionate, legitimate and in accordance with national guidance; and a review in January 2017 by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (as it then was) of whether the resources assigned to the investigation by the Home Office were being deployed in accordance with value for money principles. In addition, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has also considered specific allegations related to the former Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police.

Fraud: City of London Police

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the City of London Police Fraud unit has received any (1) sponsorship, or (2) funding, from Lloyds Banking Group.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: City of London Police (CoLP) entered into a three-year funding agreement for a total of £1.5m with Lloyds Banking Group in 2019. This agreement has been used to fund initiatives across policing to reduce fraud and economic crime.This is in line with the goals of the government’s joint public-private sector Economic Crime Plan that will cut economic crime, including fraud.

National Economic Crime Centre: Lloyds Banking Group

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the National Economic Crime Centre of the National Crime Agency has received any (1) sponsorship, or (2) funding, from Lloyds Banking Group.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) has not received any sponsorship or funding from Lloyds Banking Group.The NECC has one non-costing secondee from Lloyds. This is their third private sector secondee. All secondees complete a vetting process and sign a secondment agreement that includes restrictions on disclosure of National Crime Agency information.

Cabinet Office

Census: Judicial Review

Baroness Noakes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what costs were incurred by (1) the UK Statistics Authority, and (2) the Cabinet Office, in the judicial review proceedings against the UK Statistics Authority brought by Fair Play for Women in relation to the 2021 census.

Baroness Noakes: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Minister for the Cabinet Officewas listedas an interested party in the judicial review proceedings brought by Fair Play for Women against the UK Statistics Authority in relation to the 2021 census.

Baroness Noakes: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to thedeclaration in the Order of Consent following the judicial review proceedings brought by Fair Play for Women against the UK Statistics Authority, what plans they have toreview how (1) government departments, and (2) public sector bodies, use the word “sex”.

Baroness Noakes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conduct of (1) the UK Statistics Authority, and (2) the National Statistician, in relation to the determination of how questions on sex in the 2021 census and the related guidance were framed.

Baroness Noakes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toissue guidance to (1) the Civil Service, and (2) public bodies, to ensure that consultations on policies or practices in relation to sex and gender receive responses from a broad range of respondents.

Lord True: In the proceedings brought by Fair Play for Women in relation to the sex question guidance in Census 2021 in England and Wales, the claimant’s solicitors named the Minister for the Cabinet Office as an interested party. The Cabinet Office considered this appropriate as the department responsible for the census legislation.The legal costs have not yet been fully determined for the above proceedings.The Order made by the court, in the case referenced above specifically related to the census legislation. The court made a distinction between a person’s sex as recognised by law and the gender with which a person self-identifies. HM Government will note this more broadly, and reflect on whether further guidance for government departments and public bodies is required.HM Government also recognises the importance of accurate data collection.HM Government has monitored progress of Census 2021 through regular engagement with the Cabinet Office, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority and HM Treasury. The Government is confident that Census 2021 will be successful and provide a wealth of data reflecting the society we live in today.

Treasury

Financial Ombudsman Service: Credit

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with theFinancial Ombudsman Service about (1) the Ombudsman's mass claims unit, and (2) the affordability ofmassclaims relating to consumer credit companies.

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) they, or (2) the Financial Conduct Authority,approvedthe use by the Financial Ombudsman Service of 'mass claims' to dealwith claims againstconsumer credit companies.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Treasury is in regular dialogue with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) including on matters relating to consumer credit affordability and redress claims. To help alleviate the pressure on firms, the FOS currently sets the number of free cases at 25. From the 26th complaint onwards, businesses are currently charged a £650 case fee to cover the cost of subsequent complaints brought against them, regardless of outcome. It is estimated that nine in ten businesses whose customers bring complaints to the FOS won’t pay any case fees. It is important to note that the FOS is an independent non-governmental body which makes decisions within the statutory framework agreed by Parliament. The Government is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the FOS. The independence of the FOS is vital to its role. Its credibility, authority and value to consumers would be undermined if it were possible for the Government to intervene in its decision making.

Greensill: Money Laundering

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) about Greensill Capital and anti-money laundering regulations; and on what dates the FCA visited Greensill Capital in relation to such regulations.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The FCA is the supervisor for firms registered as Annex 1 firms under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.  Greensill Capital UK (Limited) was not authorised by the FCA. It was a registered entity under the Money Laundering Regulations, which means that it was subject to FCA regulation only for compliance with Anti-Money Laundering rules, not for wider conduct issues. Greensill Capital Securities Ltd was an Appointed Representative of an FCA-regulated firm, under whose supervision it could conduct some regulated activities. However, it was not itself supervised or authorised by the FCA. Greensill Capital Securities Ltd is no longer an Appointed RepresentativeIt would not be appropriate for HM Treasury to comment on the actions taken by an independent regulator regarding an individual firm.

Greensill

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what dates capital adequacy and stress tests were carried out on Greensill Capital; and what the outcome was of those checks.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Greensill Capital (UK) Limited was not authorised by the FCA. It was a registered entity under the Money Laundering Regulations, which means that the FCA supervised it but only for compliance with Anti-Money Laundering rules, not for wider conduct issues. Greensill Capital Securities Ltd was an Appointed Representative of an FCA-regulated firm, under whose supervision it could conduct some regulated activities. However, it was not itself supervised or authorised by the FCA. Greensill Capital Securities Ltd is no longer an Appointed Representative.At no time has the Bank of England authorised or supervised Greensill Capital (UK) Limited or any member of their group.Given Greensill Capital was not authorised by the Bank of England or the FCA no capital adequacy or stress tests were required or carried out.

Bank Services and Billing: Older People

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impactof thedigitalisation of banking and billing services on elderly people.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The retail sector is evolving, as more consumers and businesses opt for the convenience, security, and speed of digital payments and digital banking. While these innovations have brought considerable benefits to many consumers, the Government recognises that some people continue to prefer to access their banking and payments through more traditional channels. Though the Government does not make direct assessments of the impact of digitalisation of banking and billing services on the elderly, it firmly believes that it is vital to ensure that all customers, including the elderly, have suitable access to banking and bill payment services. That is why UK banks and building societies are required to provide a prompt, efficient and fair service to all of their customers, including the elderly, as set out in the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Principles of Business. For example, if a customer did not have access to the internet, then the FCA would expect the customers’ bank to provide paper bank statements to them instead. For billing services, the energy regulator Ofgem requires energy suppliers to maintain a Priority Services Register of customers in vulnerable circumstances, which includes customers of pensionable age. A range of protections are available to these customers, including the provision of account and bill information in an accessible format.

Ogier: Fines

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the tax tribunal judgment in Odey Asset Management LLP and others v HMRC [2021] UKFTT 31 (TC), what penalties have been levied upon Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The administration of the tax system is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs.  It would not be appropriate for Treasury ministers to become involved in the administration of the tax system in specific cases.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Taxation

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact the revised tax legislation which takes effect next month will have on the ability of HGV drivers to remain self-employed.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The changes to the off-payroll working rules come into effect on 6 April 2021 and were legislated for in Finance Act 2020. The off-payroll working rules have been in place for over 20 years and are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees but through their own limited company pay broadly the same Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) as those who are directly employed. The Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN)[1] published at Spring Budget 2021 sets out HMRC’s assessment that the reform of the off-payroll working rules is expected to affect about 180,000 individuals working through their own limited companies. The changes to the off-payroll working rules do not introduce a new tax liability and do not apply to the self-employed. HMRC's published guidance[2] includes an explanation of when lorry (HGV) drivers are likely to be employed and self-employed. This guidance applies to those working through Personal Service Companies and so in scope of the off-payroll rules, and is not changed by the reform. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/off-payroll-working-rules-from-april-2021/off-payroll-working-rules-from-april-2021[2] https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-status-manual/esm4210

SME Brexit Support Fund

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government when is the earliest date that applicants can expect to receive funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The earliest date by which applicants can expect to receive funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund, following a successful application, is within 30 days of the valid claim for reimbursement being accepted.

Wyelands Bank

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Bank of England has required Wyelands Bank to return all deposits or a category of deposits; if so, when; whether Wyelands remains an approved bank on the Bank of England list of banks; and if not, why this has not been publicly announced.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The PRA published a statement on its website on 3 March 2021, confirming that Wyelands Bank had been required to operationalise an orderly repayment of its deposits. Wyelands Bank has since published a statement on its website confirming that its deposit accounts have been closed and that depositors were repaid on 17 March. Wyelands have instructed any depositors who have not received their funds to contact their Customer Service team.Wyelands remains authorised by the PRA and regulated by the PRA and the FCA; however, as shown on the Financial Services Register, its permission to perform regulated activities is subject to limitations.

SME Brexit Support Fund

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is provision for SME Brexit Support Fund grants to be applied retroactively to cover adjustments put in place by businesses before the funding became available.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Applicants can only seek support for eligible expenditure on or after 11 February 2021, the date the scheme was announced.

SME Brexit Support Fund

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits to businesses of receiving funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund (1) at any time, and (2) after the impending import process changes.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government has provided extensive guidance to businesses on VAT, excise, and customs processes to support them in their readiness for the UK leaving the EU. This guidance includes videos, webinars and step-by-step guides.The announcement of the SME Brexit Support Fund followed extensive engagement with individual businesses, leading business organisations and trade associations from across the UK. Grants have been designed to cover a significant portion of the costs faced for basic customs training courses or professional advice on customs, rules of origin and the VAT aspects of imports and exports.

Political Parties: Coronavirus

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government which political parties have claimed (1) furlough payments, or (2) other emergency funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 2020; and what amount was paid to each one.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Due to HMRC’s duty of confidentiality, HMRC cannot publish identifying information that relates to their functions, which includes the coronavirus financial support schemes, unless there is an appropriate legal basis for publication. No such legal basis was in place for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) prior to 12 November 2020 when the CJRS Direction extending the scheme from 1 November was signed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In line with the direction that was published on 12 November, as part of HMRC’s commitment to transparency and to deter fraudulent claims, HMRC published information about employers who claimed for December[1] and will continue to do so on a monthly basis. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employers-who-have-claimed-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Courier Services: Northern Ireland

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of Great Britain to Northern Ireland parcel delivery services; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol on such services.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Earlier this month, the Government took several temporary operational steps to avoid disruptive cliff edges which could have affected the delivery of parcel services. These included extending the temporary arrangements that the Government set out on parcels before the end of the transition period, giving further time to parcel operators to prepare for new requirements and minimise the impact on day-to-day lives in Northern Ireland.The Government remains committed to meeting its obligations in the Northern Ireland Protocol and to doing so in a pragmatic and proportionate way, taking full account of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. The Government is continuing to support parcel operators and businesses across sectors to adapt to the new trading arrangements with the EU.

Greensill

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what records they have of (1) the dates of meetings between the Financial Conduct Authority, the directors of Greensill Capital, and that company’s auditors, and (2) the details of matters discussed at any such meetings.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the noble Lord by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

SME Brexit Support Fund

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the earliest date by which applicants can expect to receive funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The earliest date by which applicants can expect to receive funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund, following a successful application, is within 30 days of the valid claim for reimbursement being accepted.

SME Brexit Support Fund

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the SME Brexit Support Fund will open to applicants.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The SME Brexit Support Fund opened to applicants on Monday 15 March 2021.

SME Brexit Support Fund

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the maximum gross amount available to applicants through the SME Brexit Support Fund.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The maximum gross amount available through the SME Brexit Support Fund is £2,000 per applicant.

SME Brexit Support Fund

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether small and medium-sized enterprises (1)that were trading with the EU prior to 1 January, and (2) that trade with other countries, will be eligible for the SME Brexit Support Fund if they meet the criteria.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Small and medium-sized enterprises that were trading with the EU prior to 1 January are eligible for the SME Brexit Support Fund if they were only trading with the EU and so need to adjust to new customs, rules of origin, and VAT rules. If a small or medium-sized enterprise traded with the EU prior to 1 January and trades with other countries (i.e., non-EU countries), then they are not eligible for the SME Brexit Support Fund as they have no need to adjust to new customs, rules of origin, and VAT rules.

EY: Tax Avoidance

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the judgment by the Court of Appeal in the case of GDF Suez Teesside Led v Revenue And Customs [2018] EWCA Civ 2075 on 5 October 2018, what action they have taken, if any, against Ernst & Young for designing and marketing an unlawful tax avoidance scheme.

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the penalties levied on accounting firms for designing and marketing unlawful tax avoidance schemes.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) cannot comment on individual cases. HMRC will investigate allegations of wrongdoing brought to their attention. The Government is determined to tackle promoters and enablers of tax avoidance schemes and in March 2020, HMRC published their strategy for tackling promoters of tax avoidance schemes. The strategy outlines how HMRC will continue to take robust actions against promoters and enablers of tax avoidance. Finance Bill 2021 includes new measures which will strengthen the existing anti-avoidance regimes and help HMRC act more swiftly against promoters. The Government has also announced a further package of measures to ensure promoters face stronger sanctions more quickly; the consultation was published on 23 March. These proposals build on the enablers of defeated tax avoidance legislation that was introduced in 2017 and include provision for the publication of information, including the name of the enabler and the total number and amount of penalties incurred by the enabler, if they have been charged 50 or more penalties or £25,000 in penalties in any one year.

Small Businesses: Corporation Tax

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of planned corporation tax increases on the profitability of small businesses.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Corporation Tax is payable on companies’ taxable profits. From April 2023 companies with small profits, those companies with profits of £50,000 or less, will continue to pay 19%. That means that c.70% of actively trading companies will be protected from a rate increase.Marginal relief will be available for companies with profits between £50,000 and £250,000 ensuring that the effective rate of Corporation Tax increases gradually for companies with profits over £50,000, avoiding the distortions which would come with a sharp increase in rate.

Small Businesses: Pay

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of small business owners who have foregone their personal salaries to provide additional investment for their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government recognises the challenges faced by small business owners due to COVID-19. That is why the Government has committed to a very substantial package of support to help businesses, their owners and employees through this difficult time. Small business owners may benefit from extensions to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) to September 2021 announced at the recent Budget. The CJRS has supported 11.2 million unique jobs (by 15 February 2021) supporting 1.3 million employers with £53.8 billion. The next SEISS grants will potentially support an additional 600,000 claimants, bringing the Government’s support for the self-employed to £33 billion. Alongside this, small businesses have benefited from Small Business Rates Relief and may continue to benefit from the extended business rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. These firms may be eligible for the newly introduced Restart Grants, due to start in April, alongside having the opportunity to apply for a share of an additional £425 million top up to Local Authority Additional Restriction Grants. They may also be eligible to apply for the new Recovery Loan Scheme and may also benefit from the reduction of VAT for eligible businesses, and deferrals to VAT repayments. Despite this level of support, the Government acknowledges that it has not been possible to support everyone as they might wish, such as company directors. Where groups have not been included it has been because of two guiding principles; to target support to those who need it most, and to protect public money against error, fraud and abuse. Despite extensive analysis and engagement, no practical way has been found to identify and target directors unable to draw on the SEISS or CJRS, and to assess the value of support they should receive.

Corporation Tax: Northern Ireland

Lord Caine: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to devolve responsibility for corporation tax to the Northern Ireland Executive; what assessment they have made of the expected change in the level of revenue generated from corporation tax from any such transfer of responsibility; and, in particular, whether Her Majesty’s Government would be able to offset any shortfall in revenue resulting from such a transfer of responsibility.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Stormont House Agreement between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive agreed, in principle, for the power to set the rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland on certain trading profits to be devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.It was agreed that the Executive would need to demonstrate that its finances were on a sustainable footing before devolution of this power could be undertaken, and that the Executive’s block grant would need to be adjusted to reflect the corporation tax revenues foregone if the devolved power were exercised.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ratifythe UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Baroness Barran: The Government values the profound contribution of the UK’s craft workers, artisans and artists to the preservation of our unique intangible heritage. We are exploring the merits of ratifying the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, as a potential addition to the broad range of support measures which already exist for this vital aspect of our nation’s life.

Football Index

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what dates capital adequacy and stress tests were carried out by the UK Gambling Commission on Football Index; and what the outcome was of those checks.

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Jersey Gambling Commission regarding capital adequacy and stress tests carried out on Football Index.

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the impact of the collapse of Football Index.

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of (1) the Gambling Commission’s decision to grant an operating licence to Football Index, and(2) whether the level ofoversight of that company's activities was adequate.

Baroness Barran: The government is monitoring the situation with Football Index closely and Ministers [the Secretary of State and Minister for Media and Data] have met the Gambling Commission twice to receive urgent reports. A live investigation by the Commission is ongoing. The Commission has been in close contact with the Jersey Gambling Commission throughout this case and continues to work closely with them. Further information can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/news/2021/BetIndex-update.aspxThe Gambling Commission does not carry out capital adequacy and stress tests, which would normally apply to banks, or routinely monitor the financial viability of operators. It looks at suitability when licensing an operator, including their financial circumstances, and may review these aspects in the course of its compliance activity. The Commission will investigate where there is evidence that operators have breached licence conditions.

Football: World Cup

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussionsthey have hadwith the Northern Ireland Executive about the joint bid for hosting the FIFA Men's World Cupin 2030.

Baroness Barran: We regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as the other Devolved Administrations, on a range of sporting matters. This includes discussions around a potential UK and Ireland bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup which is being coordinated across the five Football Associations in the UK and Ireland.